BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

BioMarin, Catalyst Pharma deal

November 5, 2012 8:00 AM UTC

BioMarin granted Catalyst exclusive, North American rights to Orphan drug Firdapse amifampridine. BioMarin, which is eligible for undisclosed royalties, will invest $5 million in Catalyst to support development of Firdapse in the U.S. Catalyst will be responsible for all other future costs of developing and commercializing Firdapse in North America and will equally share the cost of postmarketing studies for Firdapse in the EU. The potassium channel blocker is in Phase III testing to treat Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in the U.S. BioMarin, which markets Firdapse for LEMS in the EU, said it out-licensed North American rights for Firdapse because it lacks the U.S. sales force to commercialize the product. BioMarin said that its North American sales force focuses mainly on medical geneticists, while Firdapse would be targeted to neurologists. BioMarin said it does not have march-in rights. BioMarin reported $10.8 million in net revenue for Firdapse for the first nine months of 2012. ...